St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-07

" FIX G~eStlng account
~ FIX of that wicked
gIDN tribe to the Gin
- LXZ .lsiIEf climatic Ommer-
~NVAW cial Gazette:
FIN q .WF. Their reServa-
r SC NY ton is about 200
~ miles long by 60
wide. the northern boundary line being
the Yellowstone river, which they cross
when the spirit moves them" to raid
the BlOods and Piegans, whose reserva-
tons are in the northwestern part OF
the territory (MOntana). Their fighting
men may probably amount to 800 warfi-
OrS. and as rule they are the most con-
temptible and cOwardly tribe in the
whole West. Their morals are of the low
est, as contact with civilization has
taught them nothing but the vices of
the white man; none of that virtue we
read of as peculiar to the Indian women
is found among tho Crow SquawS, and 1t
can not be expected it should be other
wise while their "lordS and masters"
compel them to pander to the passions
of vile white men. There are among
the Crows great many white men who
have married Indian women in order to
pre-empt a tract of land in the reServa-
ton. These men are termed 'Squaw
men," and in case of serious trouble
would prove valuable auXiliarieS to the
military, as it would be to their interest
to thin out the tribe as much as posi-
Bile
The Crows have been humOred and
petted so long by the government that
they have grown Saucy, eXactlng and
defiant. COnciliatOry measures have
been used toward them until they look
upon the white man with contempt, and
the only way left to gain their respect
is through fear. If war it is it Will be
of short duration, as one engagement
will cause them to sue for peace. The
most thickly populated portion of their
reservation is the valleys of the Big
and Little Horn rivers, part of which |
will endeavOr to describe.
The most direct route to reach this
country from st. Paul is by the North
ern Pacific railroad, leaving the train at
Custer Station, Mont. (Or, as some call
it, Terry'S Landing, or the cantOnment
on the YellOwStOne.) Here you may
take the stage for Fort Custer. thirty
five miles south. You pass but one
white mans habitatiOn between here
and the post, small log cabin called
the HALFWAY Ranch" 1t is used as
stage station, where horses are changed
and meals furnished travellers. But
little sign of human life is seen until
after you pass this place. The road to
the post from Custer station is confined
to the valley of the Big Horn. The
river is bordered by clumps of cotton
wood trees, among which you may Oc-
caSiOnally observe a solitary ''tepee,"
and if you approach close enough you
will be greeted by a chorus of sharp
yelpS from numberlesS ours of the CO.
m will
village of Crows within ten miles of the
post, composed for the most part of the
worst element of the tribe, who depend
for existence upon what they may
beg or steal from the members of the
garrison, as the ratiOnS issued them at
the agency are usually devOured in one
fifth of the time for which they are sup
piled. During the intervals between
issuing days the "buckS" send their
women and children into the post to beg,
and every day you may notice dozen
or more hanging around the company
kitchen Fostering ''Mer-o-cheetah' for
.'mOck-O-wah."
The first place the stage stops after
leaving the Halfway Ranch is Fort
Custer, situated on the south bank of
the Big Horn. in the fork formed by the
junction of the Big and Little Horn riv-
>. L
a ferry, which consists of twisted wire
rope stretched from the north bank to a
small island or bar in the center; a SIM
liar appliance is used from the island TO
the opposite shore. Suspended to these
wires by two pullieS, the small, tiat-bOt-
toned boats run across by the force of
the current.
The post is situated in an admirable
position, from a military Standl mt; 1t
is built on high table land. the bluffs
on the sides toward the rivers stand
with faces almost vertical for more than
200 feet above the water: the only APP
proach from the junction of the streams
is through a small pass, where gat-
ling gun squad could annihilate the
Crow nation. The fourth side
of the square formed by
termaster's and cOmmisSaryStOre houses,
cavalry stables, guard house and Sutler
store: 500 yards further on is the rifle
range and cavalry drill grounds, there
being enough level space here TO ma
neuver an army. The number of troops
habitually kept in garrison at Custer
consists of five troops of cavalry and
four companies of infantry. Col. \. A.
NJ. Dudley, First cavalry, being in COM
mand.
The agency is situated on the the
Little Horn. about nine miles from the
post, in very pleasant locality. 1t in
clues about ten buildings in all, agents
residence, store and stOrehouseS.
The Custer monument is about two
and one-half miles southwest of the
agency, about half mile from the
river, and situated at the highest point
of the foothills bordering it. This is the
spot where Custer and his Seventh cav
airy were maSsacred by Sitting Bull
and his horde of Sioux Indians.
About half mile due west of the
monument is lonely grave, surrounded
by an iron railing, marking the exact
spot where one of the most chivalrOuS
and most manly young officers of the
service fell. A plain inscription tells
the wondering stranger that here lies
all that is mortal of Lieut.. j. j. Critten-
den.
The monument itself consists of three
graniSe blocks, the foundation stone be-
ing about three feet thick by six square.
the others tapering to height of about
fifteen feet, measuring three feet across
the apex, the whole being incloSed by
an iron railing to preserve it from relic
hunters. Upon the north side is this
inscription.
................l. Observation-Disclosures
In Memory of
Officers and Soldiers, who fell !:
near this place, fighting with
Sioux Indians, on the 18th :
and 26th of June,